Bike Tour to Provins

The day starts in the town of Nangis, whose history stretches from the Roman era to the time of Napoléon when his army fought a major battle near here. We'll continue on through several quaint villages that are typical of the Brie region and which are all defined by their gothic churches and heritage.

Each has a little history to share and all exude bucolic charm. Between villages the agricultural countryside stretches before us and reminds the visitor of the reason why France is referred to as the breadbasket of Europe.

After our visits of villages and countryside it is time for the grand destination of Provins, one of the most powerful and important of the great fair towns of medieval times. Starting in the 11^th century the local counts, who were astute businessmen, sought to establish an economic trading post and took advantage of the towns geographic position on the trade routes between Italy and Flanders and eventually created a town of such wealth that it even minted its own currency. While its fame and wealth only lasted a few centuries its legacy lives on as one of the best preserved medieval towns in all of France, earning it the distinction of being selected a UNESCO world heritage site. It still retains a good portion of its medieval ramparts, towers and gates as well as numerous well preserved buildings, including an imposing donjon/keep. It also hosts numerous spectacles such as falconry and horsemanship shows, jousting and demostrations of medieval siege weaponry. If you are seeking to visit an authentic medieval town that evokes the image of lords and ladies then Provins is the place for you.

Starting the Day - We start the day meeting at the bike rental store and then ride through Paris to the train station Gare de l'Est. We take the bikes on the train to Nangis and start the ride. At the end of the ride we take the train back from Provins to Gare de l'Est and then ride to the rental store to return the bikes.

Tour Cost: 260€ - This is the price for your group, not a per person cost. It includes my guiding fee and a picnic lunch for 3 participants (four including myself). I can't carry everything on my bike so we can stop along the way so additional participants can get picnic lunch supplies.

Additional Costs: Train Ticket – Mobilis Pass 15.65€pp      Bike Rental – 30€pp



Times – Below are the estimated times to ride from the rental store to the train and back at the end of the day. You'll also find the estimated train travel times (from and back to Paris) and the time spent touring. The train time includes time spent upon entry to the train station, waiting for the train and time spent on the train. The time spent touring is inclusive of breaks, lunch and time to visit any scheduled sites.

Ride from the rental store to the train station and back: 15 minutes

Train time: 2 hours

Touring Time: 5-6 hours

Total Tour Time: 8+- hours

Distance: 40km / 25 miles

Level of Difficulty: Moderate. There are a few hills with ascent times of 5-10 minutes each but much of the ride is on flat terrain. However, this ride is best suited for those who are fit and ride regularly.

Click here for a detailed Trip Report of this tour.